The 24-year-old full-back, who was heavily linked with a switch to the Emirates in the summer transfer window, has publicly revealed he snubbed a proposed move to join Arsenal.

Djibril Sidibé, who joined AS Monaco in July, was rumoured to be one of Arsene’s top targets at full-back alongside VfL Wolfsburg’s Ricardo Rodriguez, both of which failed to materialise in the end.

Having spent the past four seasons at Lille in Ligue 1, the Frenchman admitted that prior to joining Leonardo Jardim’s side in the summer, he had a tough decision to make. He ultimately declined Arsenal’s offer, as he had concerns about whether he’d be playing regular first-team football or not.

Tottenham Hotspur's English striker Harry Kane (R) tries to pass Monaco's French defender Djibril Sidibe during the UEFA Champions League group E football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Monaco at Wembley Stadium in north London on September 14, 2016. / AFP / GLYN KIRK (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)
Tottenham Hotspur’s English striker Harry Kane (R) tries to pass Monaco’s French defender Djibril Sidibe during the UEFA Champions League group E football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Monaco at Wembley Stadium in north London on September 14, 2016. | Photo: Glyn Kirk / Getty Images

As quoted by FourFourTwo, Sidibé said: “I was on the brink of signing and [Arsenal] gave me a headache by making a bid at the last moment. Normally you would jump straight at the opportunity, but after reflecting on it I was not certain my playing time would be guaranteed.”

With Nacho Monreal and Hector Bellerín having established themselves as the club’s first-choice fullbacks, it would take plenty for Sidibé to arrive on the scene and impress enough to take either player’s place in the starting eleven with regularity.

“I would have played maybe 25 games this season, including the cups. They also wanted to use me on the left whereas I want to establish myself on the right. I chose to stay in Ligue 1 and then leave for the Premier League next year because it is a competition that greatly appeals to me.”

Having made 10 appearances at club level with Monaco thus far this season, it seems as though Sidibé has made the right choice for his development, especially after earning his first senior call-up to the France squad, where he has since played on three occasions for Didier Deschamps’ side since the start of September.

Bulgaria's forward Ivelin Popov (R) vies with France's defender Djibril Sidibe during the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifying football match France vs Bulgaria on October 7, 2016 at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. / AFP / FRANCK FIFE (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)
Bulgaria’s forward Ivelin Popov (R) vies with France’s defender Djibril Sidibe during the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifying football match France vs Bulgaria on October 7, 2016 at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. | Photo source: Franck Fife / Getty Images